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embydski's review against another edition
5.0
Fascinated by how simple and common sense the French parenting techniques are. Having worked in childcare for 4 years, I have seen many of the ways American children have been brought up to lead to reoccurring issues in behavior. I feel like these unwritten laws for the French are wonderful and will most likely be implementing some of the techniques with my future children.
carolyn0613's review against another edition
3.0
I quite liked this book. As a good read, it was a little tedious but the research on the way french people bring up their children is interesting and informative. It was very Paris-based so I'm not sure all the facts apply across the rest of France.
shiorinebooks's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
medium-paced
5.0
tophat8855's review against another edition
2.0
July 2013 RS book group
At 2-3 chapters in, I'm not going to lie. I really don't like this book, and I say that as a parent who is doing all the "right" things according to this book: my kids don't snack, they rarely wake at night past a couple of weeks old (minus illness, of course), and generally get tons of compliments. But if it weren't for book group, I'd return it to the library now. Way too many stereotypes of "American" and "French" parents. I know very few parents that fit the "American" model and I'm in America. I liked the Tiger mother book much better. I think part of it is that the Tiger mother book was actually written by a Tiger mother. This book is written by an American making observations of French people. She didn't grow up French, she's looking from the outside in. I'd rather hear about it from a French person than an American who is gushing over the novelty of being in France. Also, this book doesn't seem to take into account special needs children.
After finishing, I want to give 2.5 stars. I don't think I gained anything by finishing it except more paranoia about doing things "right." Over all, very contradictory. One example (of many) is a story of a doctor telling a mom that she doesn't need to explain why her son needs to get weighed at his physical... just he has to do it. Then later in the book, there is emphasis on always explaining things to kids and trusting that they are rational.
She gives a paragraph or so to the fact that things are contradictory, which I understand. We all have philosophies and actions that contradict each other. But if you're writing a book about how French Parenting is full of wisdom, perhaps the wisdom should be consistant?
I read it and went, "Yeah... I do that. I don't do that. I do that. I don't do that." And that's how I read pretty much every parenting book. It's validating to read, "French parents do this!" and know you do it, too. But then, why is that validating? Sure, I'm doing this thing the French do, but does that make it better?
I think this mom's privilege as the mother of neurologically "normal" children is showing. I'm also a non-snack-giving mother, but I also know my kids are ok with going long period of time without food. For other kids they need the blood sugar levels to be more balanced- after all, aren't 6 small meals supposed to be good for you? And this book completely ignores that lots of kids are on the autism spectrum or have other needs and aren't going to be "well-behaved" just by expecting them to be.
And the parent relationship stuff? Yeah, I'm going to keep expecting my husband to do laundry and cook dinner, thank you very much and it's not because I don't understand men are "different." And having to be thin? Meh. I'm healthy and fit and my jello belly is just fabulous.
I could list other things I do/don't do, but I don't think it's important. Over all: meh. I'm not going to change my parenting over a book of stereotypes. I know I'm a good parent already.
At 2-3 chapters in, I'm not going to lie. I really don't like this book, and I say that as a parent who is doing all the "right" things according to this book: my kids don't snack, they rarely wake at night past a couple of weeks old (minus illness, of course), and generally get tons of compliments. But if it weren't for book group, I'd return it to the library now. Way too many stereotypes of "American" and "French" parents. I know very few parents that fit the "American" model and I'm in America. I liked the Tiger mother book much better. I think part of it is that the Tiger mother book was actually written by a Tiger mother. This book is written by an American making observations of French people. She didn't grow up French, she's looking from the outside in. I'd rather hear about it from a French person than an American who is gushing over the novelty of being in France. Also, this book doesn't seem to take into account special needs children.
After finishing, I want to give 2.5 stars. I don't think I gained anything by finishing it except more paranoia about doing things "right." Over all, very contradictory. One example (of many) is a story of a doctor telling a mom that she doesn't need to explain why her son needs to get weighed at his physical... just he has to do it. Then later in the book, there is emphasis on always explaining things to kids and trusting that they are rational.
She gives a paragraph or so to the fact that things are contradictory, which I understand. We all have philosophies and actions that contradict each other. But if you're writing a book about how French Parenting is full of wisdom, perhaps the wisdom should be consistant?
I read it and went, "Yeah... I do that. I don't do that. I do that. I don't do that." And that's how I read pretty much every parenting book. It's validating to read, "French parents do this!" and know you do it, too. But then, why is that validating? Sure, I'm doing this thing the French do, but does that make it better?
I think this mom's privilege as the mother of neurologically "normal" children is showing. I'm also a non-snack-giving mother, but I also know my kids are ok with going long period of time without food. For other kids they need the blood sugar levels to be more balanced- after all, aren't 6 small meals supposed to be good for you? And this book completely ignores that lots of kids are on the autism spectrum or have other needs and aren't going to be "well-behaved" just by expecting them to be.
And the parent relationship stuff? Yeah, I'm going to keep expecting my husband to do laundry and cook dinner, thank you very much and it's not because I don't understand men are "different." And having to be thin? Meh. I'm healthy and fit and my jello belly is just fabulous.
I could list other things I do/don't do, but I don't think it's important. Over all: meh. I'm not going to change my parenting over a book of stereotypes. I know I'm a good parent already.